TRENTON — The law firm that cleared Gov. Chris Christie of involvement in the George Washington Bridge scandal, a corporation that was awarded millions in tax incentives by the state, the celebrity real estate tycoon Donald Trump, and a wrestling magnate in Connecticut were among the thousands who contributed to a political organization the governor now heads.

In all, the Republican Governors Association — which Christie took over as chairman in November — raised $22.4 million in the first three months of 2014, according to reports filed Tuesday with the Internal Revenue Service.

"The RGA raises funds to elect and support Republican governors," Jon Thompson, a spokesman for the group, said. "We had a large amount of donations from many individuals and entities across the country because they support the pro-jobs, pro-growth agendas 29 Republican governors are delivering for their states."

But Democrats said they doubted that the businesses whose bottom lines depend on Christie were giving for charity.

"If it looks, walks and quacks like a duck, it’s probably a duck — and these donations to the RGA fall right in line with Christie’s history of blurring the lines between political alliances and government work," said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the Democratic National Committee. "It’s a troubling pattern and speaks to the culture of questionable ethics that Chris Christie has established in his office and across state government."

For its part, the Democratic Governors Association raised $11.7 million in the first three months of 2014, much of it from corporations and corporate executives, associations and unions.

Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher, the law firm that Christie hired to conduct an internal review of his office in the wake of the seemingly politically motivated bridge closings, gave $10,000 to the Republican organization on March 18, less than two weeks before it released its 360-page report. The Record was first to report the donation by the law firm, which Democrats have said strengthens their argument that the report was a "whitewash."

But the Los Angeles-based law firm — which has made millions of dollars from the state in other business, including fighting on its behalf to overturn a federal ban on sports betting — has contributed to the association several times, including $15,000 in 2011 and $20,000 in 2012.

Pearl Piatt, a spokeswoman for the firm, said its contributions to the association "long predate our retention by the Office of the Governor and even predate when the current Governor was first elected to office."

"The firm has donated to the RGA since 2009 at the behest of Bill Kilberg, a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, who has served on the RGA’s executive roundtable since 2009," Piatt said.

Among the contributors to the governors association was the political action committee for the manufacturing giant Honeywell International, which donated $50,000 last month.

In 2012, Honeywell was approved for $40 million in tax incentives from the Christie administration to overhaul its Morris Township corporate headquarters. When it later decided to move to Morris Plains, five miles away, it was awarded a $40 million break nonetheless.

Honeywell’s political action committee also gave $100,000 to the RGA in 2012, when Christie was the organization’s vice chairman, as well as in 2013.

In addition, GTECH — a co-owner of Northstar New Jersey, which signed a 15-year contract to take over sales and marketing operations of the New Jersey Lottery in June — gave $100,000 on March 27. It has has given similar amounts since at least 2010.

Donald Trump, the real estate tycoon and celebrity, gave $250,000 to the Republican group in 2013.

Linda McMahon, the former chief executive of World Wrestling Entertainment who ran as a Republican for U.S. Senate twice in Connecticut and lost, donated $250,000 on Feb. 11.

The National Rifle Association donated $50,000 on Jan. 31. And two billionaire hedge fund managers and potential Christie presidential boosters, Paul Singer and Daniel Loeb, each gave $500,000. New Jersey’s pension fund has invested in both of their hedge funds.

"They might be asking for their money back about now," said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), a frequent Christie critic who co-chairs the panel investigating the bridge scandal. "I don’t think he’s going ot make it to the White House, but that’s my own personal opinion."